Over $25 in coupon savings to be found in the new Natural & Organic Flyer! Also, if you have a smartphone loaded with the QF App, you can activate the deal without clipping coupons! Here is the PDF version
(Sorry, this is for reference only; we can't accept coupons you print yourself from this document!)

Bowen Road Quality Foods’ entry into the Master Merchandiser Awards was the judge’s favourite in the medium store category, winning the gold across Canada for 2011. The store also received the Canadian Independent Grocer Platinum Award for ten years of excellence.

Recently all Quality Foods employees' children had the opportunity to participate in the company's annual Breakfast with Santa Christmas party.
Each family brought an unwrapped gift for the SOS Christmas Program. Pictured here with Andy Telford of the Society of Organized Services is QF organizer Dianna Rivard.

Laura MacLachlan, Quality Foods cashier, loads up paper grocery donation bags with food to help out Nanaimo’s less fortunate families.
The bags are being distributed in the News Bulletin today (Dec. 3).
Readers are asked to load the bags with non-perishable food items and drop them off at any of the three Quality Foods stores in Nanaimo, at Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank at 1009 Farquhar St., or at the News Bulletin offices at 777 Poplar St.
(reprinted from Nanaimo News Bulletin, Dec.3, 2011. Chris Bush photo)

Planning a vacation to spectacular Parksville Beach?
Why not make it a fun family event and take part in our annual Children's Sandcastle Competition and KidFest?
The 2012 event will be held on Sunday August 19. Watch this space a little closer to the time for more details and visit KidFest. Oh, and remember to arrive the night before (Aug. 18) for the amazing QF Festival of Lights fireworks simulcast to music on 88.5FM The Beach!

Randy Henson, Quality Foods University Village store manager, drops his stash of pennies in a donation jar.
Quality Foods has joined the News Bulletin’s Pennies for Presents drive for the first time this year and is collecting pennies at the cash out counters at its Harewood store.
Complete story in the Nanaimo News Bulletin here: Pennies for Presents

The Emergency Department Staff at NRGH offer you an opportunity to help a great cause by supporting their NRGH Emergency Department 2012 Calendar “We Work and Live in Your Community”.
In a show of great camaraderie the staff has organized, participated in, and are now selling their Calendar to purchase life-saving equipment for the New Emergency Department, opening in 2012!

Pick up your copy at these participating Quality Foods stores:
Northridge Village, Nanaimo
University Village, Harewood
Bowen Road, Nanaimo
100% of the proceeds collected at our stores go to the foundation!
or preview and order from the foundation website

New store wins regionally and nationally in their first year of eligibility

Regional Award for British Columbia/ Yukon, National Bronze
Quality Foods in Courtenay’s Driftwood Mall has been named the top grocer in all of BC and the Yukon. The store came out on top in the large store category, then went on to capture the National Bronze as part of the Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program. The honour was accepted by QF founding partners John Briuolo and Ken Schley on behalf of Dan Gigliotti and his store people at the October 25 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocer’s (CFIG) Annual Awards Dinner in Toronto.

The award was presented to the store in large part because of their strong and consistent participation in community activities, the shopping experience from a customer’s point of view and many other criteria.

Store manager Dan Gigliotti was elated at the news. “Being a newer store, this is the first year we were eligible to compete against other independent grocers, and there is some amazing competition regionally and across Canada.”

“There are no words to say how incredibly proud I am of our people who work in the store every day,” says Dan. “This award is because of their hard work, and really it belongs to all of them.”

Other QF Awards
Bowen Road Quality Foods’ entry into the Master Merchandiser Awards was the judge’s favourite in the medium store category, winning the gold across Canada. The store also received the Canadian Independent Grocer Platinum Award for ten years of excellence.

Quality Foods Nanoose Bay also received a Platinum Award for ten consecutive years of national recognition in the Awards of Merit program.

In fact, all eleven QF stores received an Award of Merit from judges who visited all applicants across Canada.

The Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding Canadian Grocers based on a rigorous evaluation performed from the consumer’s perspective. Held in conjunction with Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery trade show for Canada’s grocery industry -- the Independent Grocer of the Year Award recognizes excellence in grocery retailing among independents. Hundreds of grocery stores nationwide competed in this year’s program.
For more visit www.cfig.ca

BC has a new program to recycle your old & broken small appliances.
Unplugged is a non-profit program funded by a recycling fee applied to new products brought into B.C. by small appliance manufacturers and retailers.
The fee will be introduced October 1st at all retailers to cover all program costs, including collection, transportation and recycling, and may be included in a product’s price or displayed as a separate charge at check-out.
Find out more at www.unpluggedrecycling.ca

Qualicum - GAY PLAMONDON
Comox - MARY DUNSTAN
Bowen Rd. - BARBRA GALLONE
Nanoose Bay - LYNDA SCRIVENER
Port Alberni - ANELLA KULAOTS
Waterside - BARBARA CAMPBELL
Northridge - ANNE FRANZMANN
Harewood - PETE MACDONALD
Campbell River - NORMA LYNNE BROOKS
Powell River - PAULINE BRADLEY
Courtenay - HEATHER OLIVER

Qualicum - CHRISTINA THORSELL
Comox - JUDY TRAINOR
Bowen Rd. - CHAD WITCZAK
Nanoose Bay - PATRICIA KVARV
Port Alberni - MARGOT BODCHON
Waterside - EDITH HEMINGWAY
Northridge - KIM SHAW
Harewood - ASHLEIGH LOCKHART
Campbell River - VALERIE GRAHAM
Powell River - MICHAEL HERON
Courtenay - TERESA CAMERON

Gord Groves, Manager of Port Alberni Quality Foods, along with Bill Allen, President, and Peter Halliwell, treasurer of the Shriners, present Mike Ironside with $1000 in gift certifi cates.
Mike won this at the Fall Fair and had a choice of a TV or $1000 in groceries. Quality Foods also added $200 to make the total value $1200.Quality Foods also added $200 to make the total value $1200. All of the proceeds of this draw go to transporting children to hospitals including B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
Mike very graciously donated his prize to a very deserving single mother of two children.

2011 - Prize Winners
6 years & Under Age From:

1st Prize: Double Trouble
1 Colby Vanstone 6 Qualicum Beach
2 Kaden Vanstone 6 Qualicum Beach

2nd Prize: Son Sisters
1 Adelaide Waldie 6 Lantzville
2 Sydney Waldie 6 Lantzville

3rd Prize: Team Carter
1 Carter Morrison 6 Victoria

Mystery: Presley Caudreault 4 Parksville

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7 - 9 years Age From:

1st Prize: The Seals
1 Gabby Powell 9 Parksville
2 Breanne Powell 8 Parksville
3 Danica McDonald 8 Parksville
4 Estee Marquis 9 Parksville

2nd Prize: Seashell
1 Thomas Devaughn 9 Parksville
2 Tristen Devaughn 4 Parksville
3 Tabatha Devaughn 7 Parksville

3rd Prize: The Fashion Police
1 Jada Nykwist 9 Nanaimo
2 Briana Smith 9 Nanaimo

Mystery: Hannah Hoenisch 9 Victoria

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10 - 12 years Age From:

1st Prize: Sea Horses
1 Zoe Letcher 12 Qualicum Beach
2 Tessa Letcher 12 Qualicum Beach
3 Taylor Carnegie 8 Qualicum Beach
4 Kayden Letcher 8 Qualicum Beach

2nd Prize: Who Let the Dogs Out?
1 Taylin Squire ? Parksville
2 Maddy Campbell ? Parksville
3 Jamie Morison ? Victoria

3rd Prize: Sooke Sandblasters
1 Justin Logan 12 Sooke
2 Tanya Fogarty 11 Sooke
3 Jason Logan 10 Sooke
4 Tyler Fogarty 9 Sooke

Mystery: Seiya Terada 10 Parksville

When Keri Crossley of Qualicum Beach received the call informing her that she had won the national prize from Saputo’s Spring into Action promotion, she nearly hung up on the good news.
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“I was skeptical at first, because you hear of so many phone scams lately where they want you to claim a prize,” says Keri. “But I stayed on the line and it became clear that this was legitimate.” .
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The grand prize is an all expense paid trip for four to Costa Rica valued at $10,000, drawn from thousands of online contest entries,. The contest is administered by Saputo Inc. who supplies Quality Foods with Dairyland milk, Armstrong Cheese and other familiar brands. .
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As an additional part of the promotion, one shopper from each of the eleven Quality Foods stores also won a new Norco Pinnacle 21-speed mountain bike, valued at approximately $400 each. .
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Congratulations to the Crossley family!

Thanks for the help:
Campbell River firefighters thanked Quality Foods manager Cyriel DeBruyne (centre) for helping them raise $2,400 for muscular dystrophy research through their annual pancake breakfast.
Quality Foods donated the supplies and the Coast Discovery Inn and Willow Point Lions helped out as well.
(Alistair Taylor/The Mirror)

Congratulations to Shelly Carson of Powell River, winner if our Father's Day prize of a new Honda Jazz Scooter, courtesy of Quality Foods and Reed's & Virgil's beverages!

Congratulations to the winners of our 29th Anniversary Week Prize package of a 4-pce patio furniture set, Kobo eReader and Multiclad Cookware set!
Qualicum CHRISTINE ROSS Comox DONNA WEISS Bowen Rd. EDIE PAGANI Nanoose Bay CHERYL FRALIC Port Alberni JEAN COOKE Waterside CONNIE BLYAN Northridge SYLVIA LINN Harewood MYRA HAWKER Campbell River SUSAN BALDRY-WHITE Powell River CLIFFORD STOCKER Courtenay SUSAN QUINTON

Congratulations to these 29th Anniversary winners of a 5-Appliance prize package, valued at over $2,400!
Qualicum ELIZABETH GRAY Comox TAKAKO WOLFE Bowen Rd. MARILYN METCALF Nanoose Bay H MASTERS Port Alberni WAYNE KINDRATSKY Waterside GRETA CHRISTIANSEN Northridge MARLENE PULLEN Harewood WINONA ADAMS Campbell River JULIA FONAGY Powell River KEN PARSONS Courtenay HELENA CURTAIN

With an ever-increasing number of our shoppers concerned about wheat and gluten in their diets, whether by choice or neccessity, it has become clear that better product identification is needed in the store.

This week, we added dozens more signs in all of our QF stores in an effort to identify gluten-free products on our store shelves.

Here is a PDF product list
of the items we have identified so far, or look for the Gluten Free Product signs in store.

Innovation is Key for Vancouver Island Winner
Quality Foods was selected from thousands of applicants nationwide to win a prestigious place among Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for 2010.
“One of the main reasons Quality Foods has enjoyed strong and continuous growth for our entire 29 years in business”, says Ken Schley, QF’s Director of Operations and founding partner, “is our focus on innovations that improve the shopping experience for our customers. To do that we ensure we have a strong, diverse team of like-minded people to maintain our competitive advantage and independence. These people know how to engage our shoppers and they work hard to keep them coming back, time after time.”
This independence allows the group to provide customers with an interactive experience that adds fun to grocery shopping. "We try to do things in a way that is difficult to duplicate and improves the shopping experience for our customers, such as unique store design and using technology differently,” says founding partner John Briuolo of Qualicum Foods. “Customers can choose their own "daily special”, in addition to the traditional specials listed in the current flyer. It’s like a little treasure hunt for customers. Over time they have figured out the best items to choose that are not in the flyer. In fact, they share their best secret items with their friends and it creates a word of mouth buzz that advertising can’t buy.”
One of Quality Foods’ most recent and successful campaigns to follow this line of thinking is the new Quality Foods Phone App. “We have all seen phone apps where everyone receives the same offers, so this unique because each person can accept or decline any or all of the offers, making it tailored to the individual,” says Schley. “It’s another first in the food industry in that it seamlessly allows customers to activate special offers which are then instantly available at the checkout, specifically for that person.”
Quality Foods is an independent grocer operating eleven award-winning stores on Vancouver Island (and Powell River).

Beginning Monday, January 31, you can use your smart phone or tablet to take advantage of some very special deals, and keep tabs on the latest Appy Hour daily specials and more.
Here's how: Have your Q-Card number ready, then using your smart phone or tablet (iPhone, Blackberry, iPad or similar device), go to www.qualityfoods.com. The site will appear in a way that your device understands so you can add it to your bookmarks. It may take a few moments to load, depending on your type of connection. On your first visit only, you will be prompted for your email and Q-Card.
Here's what you can do:
* Appy Hour – Quickly see what the Appy Hour special is each day, in-store between 4:00 – 6:00 PM. (A Q-Card is not required for this feature; on your phone or in the store)
* Activate Special Deals right from your smartphone or tablet, then shop for the featured items at any Quality Foods store. You'll get the deals instantly when you checkout with your Q-Card!
* Keep track of your active Special Deals in My Deals.
* Handy tools, such as Q-Point® lookup! Many more features, tools and enhancements will be added regularly as we progress.

WIN 1 of 3 SIDNEY CROSBY OFFICIAL TEAM CANADA JERSEYS! All QF App Special Deals completed at the checkout will be automatically entered to win this week between Feb 4 - 13, 2011
About Special Deals: * Limit 1 per Special Deal, per day. Once purchased, your offer is automatically removed from “My Deals”. Save even more! You can reload your Special Deal again the next day!
Currently the QF App is only available for smartphones and tablets. For example:
* iPhone * Blackberry * Many other smartphone brands * iPad and similar tablets. Coming soon! Later this year, our newly enhanced website will offer the same Special Deals as the QF Phone App!

Restrictions and limitations: Each Special Deal is available while supplies last at your favourite QF store on Vancouver Island or Powell River. Sorry, nor rainchecks on QF App Special Deals. A Q-Card number is required; Apply instore or online at www.qualityfoods.com. Not compatible with personal desktop computers or laptops. In the future, the QF App will also be available for download from the iTunes store. A limit of one of each special deal per day is in effect, and will expire on the stated date. Once a Special Deal has been used it is automatically removed from My Deals, and can be reactivated on the following day. Expired deals are automatically removed from My Deals. Special Deals may be removed at any time, regardless of expiry date, and without notice; however, your selected offers in My Deals will remain until used or expired.

*Please note: While we make every effort to ensure there is more than enough product in each store to exceed the duration of the Special Deal, occasionally items exceed our best predictions or we encounter supply issues beyond our control. Sorry, rainchecks are not available for Special Deals products.

For every five cans of selected Campbell’s soup or Heinz canned beans or pasta purchased this fall, QF donates one can on behalf of their customers. The resulting donations are being delivered to the Salvation Army on Wembly Road on Monday, Dec. 20 at 2:00 pm.

This donation is a result of the incredible generosity demonstrated by Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Nanoose Bay residents. The value of the pallet of over 100 cases of 1,500 canned goods is over $1,700.

This year, QF pledged to match donations raised by the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce and convert it into non-perishable food for the local food bank as well. This campagn adds an additional 100 cases worth over $1,750.

In other food bank related efforts, Quality Foods shoppers showed their goodwill by donating tens of thousands of pounds of groceries through the “Buy A Bag” program and food drives. Our overall goal was to raise 65,000 lbs. of non-perishible food this year and because of our generous customers, we exceeded that target once again. People really supported all of our food bank programs this season and it is really great to see, considering the economic climate.

Please feel free to drop off any non-perishables this new year, at any of our store locations. Food banks are always in need, and every donation helps!

From all of us at Quality Foods, and that of our local food banks, thank you for your continued support!

A huge thank you to Noel and the staff of the Old Dutch Inn and Ken, John, Dianna and the rest of the QF team for hosting a fabulous Christmas reception last night at the Old Dutch Inn.
Over 80 chamber members thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were treated to a wide variety of appetizers and desserts. With the donations received for last night's event, the Chamber members and Qualicum Foods raised over $3,500.00 in total for the local Food Bank which will be delivered before Christmas.
This combined effort of QF and the Chamber has been proven to be successful for those in our community less fortunate than those of us who were able to participate.

Mike Counsell, Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank director, left, Gord Groves, Quality Foods Bowen Road store manager and Randy Romano, Northridge Village store manager, load up to help lighten the load for Loaves and Fishes over Christmas.


Quality Foods grocery bags are being delivered to Nanaimo homes in the Tuesday (Nov. 23) edition of the News Bulletin. People can fill the bags with food donations and drop them off at Quality Foods stores Christmas hamper collection bins.

The Parkville-Qualicum Beach News distributed the QF bags last week, just in time for the change in weather. The Parksville and Qualicum Beach Fire Departments braved the snow for their door-to-door and drop-off campaigns.

Shoppers can also purchase a bag of pre-assembled non-perishables at the checkout of any QF store, and drop it in the bin at the store as an easy way to help those in need.

Quality Foods in Nanaimo Northridge has been named a top grocer in all of BC and Yukon, within the medium store category. QF founder, Ken Schley had said “there is some amazing competition throughout the region, so this is a really good morale booster for everyone who works in the store every day. They do a great job.”

The Comox store has received the Platinum Award for ten years of excellence, and then inducted into the Independent Grocer Hall of Fame. The store had been inducted, largely in part, because of the “store’s excellence and consistent store achievements year after year”. All QF stores had received an Award of Merit. This truly shows Quality Foods’ commitment in putting the community and customers first.

Quality Foods in Parksville has been named the top grocery merchandiser in all of Canada! The store won National Gold for their entry, then went on to capture the National Platinum for the best overall across all categories as part of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers Master Merchandiser Awards program. Guy Sigouin had said they had “saw some very strong entries from across Canada, so for our little store to win it all is very special. This reinforces to everyone at the store who worked so hard all year that their efforts do make a difference to our loyal customers and the entire community. Thank you and congratulations to them.”

Quality Foods, in Powel River, has been named the top grocer in the large store category, in all of BC and the Yukon. This prestigious award was presented to the store, in large part, because of their strong and consistent participation in community. Bruce Robertson, Store Owner, had said “there are no words to say how incredibly proud I am of our people who work in the store every day. This award is because of their hard work, and really it belongs to all of them.” Powell River had also gone on to capture the National Bronze as part of the Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program. Powell River was in its first eligible year to compete amongst the best independent grocers across Canada. These two awards captured by Powell River is truly an indication of Quality Foods’ dedication in bringing their customers the best and most rewarding shopping experience.

Here are the winners from the Quality Foods Children's Sandcastle Competition, held on a beautiful Sunday morning, August 22.

Thank you to all who came out and enjoyed the day, and also to out many QF volunteers who gave unselfishly of their time and talents to make this another memorable QF community event!

Ages 6& Under
1. Wagon & Dalmation: "2 Dolphins", Chloe & Kayden Huismen-Wing 5&6yrs., Courtenay BC
2. Bouncy Castle: "Double Tree" Kayden & Colby Vansten, Age 5, Qualicum Beach
3. Bike: Bryn McGorman, 4 yrs., Parksville, BC

Ages 7 - 9
1. Gund Bears: "Team Devon", Devon Vickery, 9 yrs, Victoria, BC
2. Sony Stereo: "Ocean Hunters", Jordan, Emma, Catherine 7 & 9 yrs., Nanoose BC
3. Bike: "Iguana Have Fun", Taylon Squire & Jamie Morrison , 9 yrs , Parksville, Victoria BC

Ages - 10 to 12
1. iPod System : "The Croakers", Linsay Pilton, Kyla Squire, Sophie , 12yrs Parksville, BC
2. Wii : "The Pig Pen ", Ciara, Auriana, Justin 11 & 12 yrs. Parksville, BC
3. Bike: "The Sand Otters", Jacob, Nicolas, Jonathan , 12 yrs Parksville, BC

Fireworks Spectaculars Canada (FSC) of Calgary, who designs and produces our QF Festival of Lights fireworks shows, won International Gold at the recent International des Feux Loto-Quebec in Montreal.

FSC Owner Brad Dezotell had described the award as “the most prestigious in the world of fireworks”, and was very excited for the win. “I felt we performed well enough to be on the podium, but this was beyond expectations based on what we had seen from some tough competition, especially Sweden,”

Sweden took silver and France the bronze awards.

The gold award-winning entry entitled “Heroes” , performed on July 24, also captured the People’s Choice award. The full media release can be found:
here

Having worked and grown along side Brad Dezotell and FSC for many years, we are extremely proud to be a part of such a defining success for their company. This award puts into perspective the calibre of shows we offer in our Quality Foods communities, attracting well over 100,000 estimated viewers over the six-show series.

There are two QF Festival of Lights shows this weekend, simulcast to your favourite TV show themes:
Friday night at at Willingdon Park in Powell River simulcast on 95.7 SUN-FM
Saturday night at Parksville Beach simulcast on 88.5 FM The Beach

For the first time on Friday Sept. 3, FSC will perform the QF Festival of Lights event in Port Alberni.

You could call it the rapid response team and you wouldn’t be far wrong, says Major Rolf Guenther. The community services coordinator for the Mount Arrowsmith Community Ministry of the Salvation Army made the comment Tuesday in response to a generous donation sparked by a newspaper story from the previous day. “I got a call first thing in the morning from the manager of Quality Foods in Parksville,” Guenther said. “He said he had read the story in The News and they were willing to donate one pallet of food, which we definitely need.” Guenther said he was impressed by the speed of the response. “That’s a marvellous response to a newspaper story in The News,” he said. “It’s just great. It shows people read The News first thing in the morning.” On hand to lend some muscle at the Salvation Army’s loading dock was Quality Foods Parksville store manager Guy Sigouin. “In our company we read the paper on a daily basis to make sure we know what’s happening in the community,” Sigouin said. “We saw you had an article in the paper about there being a huge need right now at the Food Bank, so on behalf of Quality Foods we felt we would make a $5,000 donation of Campbell’s products.” Sigouin said it didn’t take long to get things into gear once the need was identified. “It started happening at 10 a.m. this morning and at 11 a.m. it’s here,” he said. “We know the great work [the Salvation Army] does in the community, and we want to be good community sponsors.” Guenther said the Salvation Army has had to cut back on what they give out to needy families because the demand has more than tripled over the past three years. “We had to reduce what we give, because we just don’t have it,” he said, noting that as the summer progresses, more donations will be needed.
Quality Foods store manager Guy Sigouin helps the Salvation Army’s Major Rolph Guenther load $5,000 worth of food donations into the warehouse in French Creek Tuesday. - Neil Horner photo, PQB News.

QF Blu By U Wins "Best Local Team" at the 2010 Save On Foods Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival!

In an impressive field of 81 dragon boats this year, we are pleased to report that our QF Blu By U team placed fourth overall. Of those teams, approximately two dozen are local, with QF Blu By U capturing the "best local team" honours. We are extremely proud of the commitment, dedication and hard work the team has shown over the years in their efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research

QF Blu By U has taken home the same trophy in 2004, 2006, 2009 and again this year.

Congratulations to the coaches, managers and paddlers for their outstanding efforts!

"Twenty-four years ago, we started the very first of many annual sandcastle competitions right here on Parksville beach. We had one store at the time in Qualucum Beach," recalls QF Director of Operations Ken Schley. "It somehow seems fitting that we have gone full circle. It's our first year of our title sponsorship of the Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition, and the first year that it's a qualifying event for the World Championships this September."

The winners of this event will advance to the finals in Federal way Washington.

"The field of talent competing this year was exceptional, and the results of these artists bringing their best is evident in the sculptures," remarks Rob MacKay of Quality Foods. MacKay, Parksville Mayor Ed Mayne and local artist Brian Middleton were the three non-competitor judges for this important event. "Speaking for the judges, we really enjoyed the process yet never lost sight of what is at stake for these competitors."
"I hope everyone gets an opportunity to see the level of talent and dedication to the craft on display at Parksville Beach until the middle of August."

Results for the 2010 Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Scuplting Competition ar as follows:
Solo Sculptors:
1st: Bruce Waugh, Langley
2nd: David Ducharme, Winlaw, B.C.
3rd: Melineige Beau Regard, St-Hippolyte, Que.
4th: Marc Lepire, Wendake, Que.
5th: Fred Mallett, Port Aransas, Texas

Teams:
1st: Sandboxers, Victoria
2nd: Orbital Sanders, Seattle
3rd: Cutting Edge, Parksville

Competitors’ Choice Awards
Solo: David Ducharme, Winlaw, B.C.
Teams: Orbital Sanders, Seattle

People's Choice Awards are determines by ballot of the general public visiting the displays.

For more information on the Quality Foods Canaian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition, please visit Parksville Beach Festival Society

Quality Foods continues their support of health care in the communites where they do business by adding to the Quality Foods Community Health Care Endowment Fund.
A cheque for $15,000 is presented on behalf of QF customers to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, who administers the fund.
The donation is a result of twenty-five cents from each Becel, Dempster’s and Canola Harvest product during January and February in all Quality Foods stores.

Photo, from left to right:
Represnting all QF stores: Gord Groves, QF Bowen Road and Allan Schley, QF Northridge; Accepting the cheque is Amber Adams, Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation

Our new store opened in the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay on April 8 - WOW, What an exciting event!
We are thrilled with the warm reception we have received from Courtenay and other Comox Valley residents and businesses. In fact we had people from all different areas of Vancouver Island! To name a few: Cumberland,
Royston,
Union Bay,
Fanny Bay
Black Creek,
Merville
Qualicum Beach
and many, many more!

Thanks to everyone who came out in support of your new store!

For Immediate Release
The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Ken Schley as the 2009 recipient of it’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Coastal Community Credit Union Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by the past presidents of the Chamber recognizing the individual’s support of the business community, their history of achievement, their commitment to Qualicum Beach and their multi-dimensional impact on the community and their industry.

“Ken represents everything we outlined in the criteria for this award” said Past President Po Wan, chair of the Past Presidents committee that selected this year’s recipient. “He has had a tremendous impact on this community ever since he saw the opportunity to open Qualicum Foods in 1982. Ken has shown extraordinary leadership as head of the Quality Foods Team. Over the past number of years Ken has been honoured by the BC Food Brokers for Outstanding Leadership, voted into the Hall of Fame by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, recognized as one of the Best Managed Companies by Deloitte and in 2005 Qualicum Foods was honoured as the Best Grocery Store in Canada. The same year Qualicum Foods was one of only 31 grocery stores in the world recognized for their design of the store and the only one in Canada to receive such recognition. In 2008 Ken was the recipient of the Golden Pencil, the highest award given in Canada to an individual in the industry. Last weekend Ken received the highest honour British Columbia has to offer for his leadership in the industry… and that’s just some of the highlights” added Wan.

As the Director of Operations of the Qualicum Foods Team, Ken’s leadership and vision for the stores has been equaled by his vision for his home town. “One only has to look at the sponsorship posters for most of the events in our community to know that QF is involved. There isn’t much that would happen in our community without their support” said Wan. “We are truly a better place to live, work and play because Ken Schley made the decision to move here, raise his family and be a part of this community 28 years ago and we are proud to honour his achievements and contributions to his industry and Qualicum Beach” she added.

Nominations for the Community Awards close Friday, February 12th in the categories of Best New Business, Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Customer Service, Best Business and Volunteer of the Year. Presentation of the Community Awards will be Wednesday, March 17th at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Awards Dinner tickets are available at the Chamber office at 124 West 2nd Avenue, Qualicum Beach.

The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce has been the “Voice of Business” in the community since 1927.

For Information:
Judi Ainsworth, General Manager, Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 250-752-0960 or 250-738-0155, Cell: 250-951-3700, Email: chamber@qualicum.bc.ca

Ken Schley, Quality Foods' Director of Operations was honoured on Feb. 7 with a Leadership Achievement Award. The award presentation was held jointly by the Phoenix Food & Drug Group and the Food Executives Club of Vancouver at Newlands Golf Club in Langley, with about three hundred guests in attendance. Manufacturer Steve Maddeaux od Old Dutch Foods was also recognized asa 2010 award recipient.

Small things make all the difference and in Qualicum Beach you won't find big box stores and fast food chains.
Instead there are many unique shops and services that have a style and character all their own--just like their owners! Fashion boutiques, art galleries, bookshops, antique stores, florists, home décor studios, bakeries, cafés, fine restaurants... all of them add to the personality of our town and the quality of our lives. Have a look at how the beauty of small message is spreading.

The Newman's Own Foundation and Quality Foods raised funds through sales of Newman's Own products in all Quality Foods stores during a recent promotion. The funds raised represented the first corporate donation toward the new Renal Dialysis Centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
"It's a start"', says Rob MacKay of Quality Foods. "They are looking to raise at least $540,000 for this critically needed facility..." Read more

Qualicum Foods has been awarded the regional Gold Award for British Columbia/ Yukon, then advanced to capture the National Silver as part of the Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program. The honour was accepted by QF partners Ken Schley and John Briuolo on behalf of their store people at the Oct.27 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocer’s (CFIG) Annual Awards Dinner in Toronto.
The Gold Award for the BC/Yukon region has gone to a Vancouver Island Quality Foods store for five consecutive years. “We are thrilled that our stores continue to strike a chord with the industry, and more importantly, with our local shoppers,” remarks Schley. “To have received this award despite more entries than ever, and more intense competition than ever, is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our people every single day. This is a proud day for them.”
The award, in the large store size category, was awarded to the store in large part because of their strong and consistent participation in community activities, being a good corporate citizen in general and creating a positive workplace, among other factors. “The fact that all nine of our eligible QF stores received Awards of Merit for the third straight year gives us great momentum and confidence going into the Courtenay community where a brand new QF store is just weeks away,” comments Schley.
The Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding Canadian Grocers based on a rigorous evaluation performed from the consumer’s perspective. Held in conjunction with Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery trade show for Canada’s grocery industry -- the Independent Grocer of the Year Award and Master Merchandiser Awards recognize excellence in grocery retailing among independents. Hundreds of grocery stores nationwide competed in this year’s program.
For more visit www.cfig.ca

The Canadian Master Merchandiser Award is awarded to the independent grocer who best demonstates effective merchandising through store displays, community involvement and building strong relationships between retailrs and suppliers. This year, Quality Foods of Harewood submitted an entry that encompassed each of these qualities and was rewarded with the coveted National Gold in the large store category.
“This award is special for us because it represents a passing of the torch to the next generation of grocers in our group,” states Ken Schley, QF Director of Operations. "The Scott Tournament of Hearts provided us a good teaching tool to show how grocery retailing, store team building and community involvement dovetail together for exceptional shopping experiences." “A lot of people worked very hard for this, and the results were remarkable. We’re very pleased and excited to return and share this achievement with them.”

Quality Foods Director of Operations Ken Schley of Qualicum Beach received a rare and time-honoured award at a special ceremony in Toronto on November 24, 2008.
Originally called the 'Knights of the Golden Pencil Award', the Golden Pencil Award was first presented in 1957, recognizing outstanding individuals in the Canadian food industry.
“This recognition is considered the highest honour for any individual in our entire industry,” comments Noel Hayward, one of Ken’s two long-time business partners. “Recipients can be retailers, manufacturers, distributors or any part of the food industry for that matter.”
The symbol used for this Award is a Golden Pencil, signifying the transaction between supplier and retailer by the stroke of a pen. The award itself consists of an actual golden pencil held on a plaque honouring the recipient as well as a scroll, and place on the "Knights of the Golden Pencil Wall of Fame".
On an annual basis, the Nominations Committee reviews suggestions made by both the Executive Committee and the industry at large. The selection process normally will encompass as many as thirty to forty worthy candidates. The criteria for selection is an individual who, through career dedication, has made a significant and worthwhile contribution to the Canadian Food Industry.
Ken has been an active voice for independent grocers both regionally and nationally in such areas as the Beverage Container Stewardship Program. As well he is a past chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. With the vision of business partners John Briuolo and Noel Hayward. and Ken’s direction, Quality Foods proved that customer service and community involvement are much more than subtle niceties, they are a core part of the company’s identity and success. At the same time Quality Foods has become associated with pioneering technology in every area of the retail grocery business from the front end to the back office and online. Some ‘firsts’ include the Canadian grocery industry’s first electronic loyalty card (1990) and Western Canada’s first online grocery store (1996). In 2005 Quality Foods ushered in a new era of customer interaction where shoppers choose their own specials.
The Golden Pencil Award is administered by the non-profit Food Industry Association of Canada in cooperation with all sectors of the food industry.

For Immediate Release
Qualicum Foods named Platinum Merchandiser
The Canadian Master Merchandiser Award is awarded to the independent grocer who best demonstates effective merchandising through store displays, community involvement and building strong relationships between retailrs and suppliers. This year, Qualicum Foods of Qualicum Beach submitted an entry that encompassed each of these qualities and was rewarded with the coveted National Gold in the large store category, then went on to take home the Platinum Award for best entry across all categories.

“This award is special for us because our entry was based on “25 Years in the Bag” as a wrap up to our 25th Anniversary celebrations,” states Ken Schley, QF Director of Operations. “A lot of people worked very hard for this, and the results were remarkable. We’re very pleased and excited to return and share this achievement with them.”

The Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program is designed to recognize outstanding Canadian Grocers based on a rigorous evaluation performed from the consumer’s perspective. Held in conjunction with Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery trade show for Canada’s grocery industry -- the Independent Grocer of the Year Awardand Master Merchandiser Awars recognize excellence in grocery retailing among independents. Hundreds of grocery stores nationwide competed in this year’s program.
For more visit www.cfig.ca or
QF Contact: Rob MacKay, Quality Foods, 250-248-4004.